Locomotive-bell ringer



{No Model.) Y 2 SheetsSheet 1.

J. L. BAKER. LOGOMOTIVE BELL RINGER.'

Patented'Apr. 9

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' J. L. BAKER.

LOGOMOTIVE BELL RINGBR.

No. 537,102.; Patented Apr. 9,95.

v I I,

'UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

I JOHN L; BAKER, O F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

LOQOMOTIVE-BELL RINGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,102, dated April 9,1395.

. Application filed August 31, Serial No. 521,862- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

zen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Locomotive-Bell Ringer, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanisms for operating locomotive bells, and adapted to vibrate the samecontinuously after being given the initial impulse until manually stopped.

The objects of the invention are to provide efficient means for reducing to a minimum the Wear upon the contacting relatively movable parts of the mechanism to avoid, for in-:

stance, the formation of ridges upon the inner surface of the cylinder; furthermore, to

provide means for cushioning the piston to avoid jarring or hammering at the terminals of the strokes; furthermore, to provide means for causing a free swinging movement of the bell, whereby after an impulse in one direction is given thereto, it is allowed to return to itsinitial position without interference, to avoid jerking or jarring the parts of the mechanism; and furthermore to provide a simple connection in the cab of an engine to facili-- tate the starting of the bell ringing apparatua;

Further objects and advantages of the in-- Vention will appear in the following descrip-j tion, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. y

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view partly broken away of a locomotive cab showing the arrangement of the means for star t-' ing the bell ringing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the bell ringing apparatus showing the piston in its lowered position, said section being taken in aplane corresponding with the axis of the inlet port of the cylinder. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the piston iuits Fig. 5 is a vertical section of said apparatus, taken on a plane embracing the axis ofthe exhaust port. Fig. 6.is a' horizontal section on the plane indicated by the line 6 6 of Fig. 3, and showing the exhaust port in dotted lines. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the piston rod.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a cylinder provided at a point between its extremities, and preferably below its transverse center, with an inlet port 2, adapted to be connected with a supply pipe for conducting a motive agent, such as air or steam, a supply pipe of the class named being indicated in Fig. l at 3, and being provided,at a convenientpoint,preferably within the locomotive cab, with a valve 4, having a handle or operating arm 5.

Below the plane of the above mentioned inlet port, is an exhaust port 6, also communicating with the cylinder, and extending within the'wall of the cylinder from said exhaust port, is a relief port 7, which enters the cylinder at a point near its upper extremity, but sufficiently removed therefrom to provide for forming a cushion between the extremity of said port 7 and the adjacent head of the cylinder. The cylinder is provided at its lower end with a tubular axial extension 8, forming a seat for-a supporting spring 9, which bears against the lower end of the piston rod 10, and is designed to support said piston rod, and its connections,and prevent the descent thereof, until positively actuated by force applied in opposition to the spring. Said piston rod fits slidably in a stuffing box 11, ar-

ranged in the removable head-block 12, and is provided near its lower end with a shoulder or seat 13, and at an intermediate point with a similar shoulder or seat 14.

Slidably mounted upon the piston rod, near its lower end, and upon the reduced portion 15, which is formed by the shoulder 13, is a controlling valve 16, provided with ports 17 and carrying packing rings 18 to preserve an even and steam tight contact with the walls ofthe cylinder. The shoulder 13 is adapted to limit the movement of the valve 16 toward the extremity of the piston rod, and. provide a means for communicating the upwardmovement of the'piston rod to the valve. The lower extremity, or enlarged portion of the piston rod, operates slidably in the tubular extension or guide 8, axial alignment with the supporting spring 9,'and said guide is extended upward into the body of the cylinder, above the plane of the floor thereof, to provide an annular cavity 19, in which is adapted to fit the depending annular rim .20, of the controlling valve.

Seated upon the shoulder 1t isa piston head 21, and hearing at its lower extremity upon the nppersurface of the piston head is asleeve 22, which is fitted snugly upon the upper reduced portion of the piston rod, and fits slidably in the above described stuffing box. Said sleeve and piston head are held in their proper relative positions by means of a pivotal joint or connection 23, which is threaded upon the upper extremity of the piston rod. Said joint or connection comprises a socket portion 24., which is threaded as described uponthe end of the piston rod, and is provided with upstanding, parallel cars 25, between which the lower extremity of a pitman 26 is fitted. A pivot pin 27 engages registering perforations in the cars 25, and an eye 28 in the lower extremity of the pitman, a bushing 29 being arranged in said eye, to avoid injury by friction to the latter. In order to confine the wear, due to the swinging movement of the pitman, to the said bushing and the pivot pin 27, I provide one of the cars 25 with a lateral flange 30, having registering perforations 31 in which is fitted a locking pin Said pin engages a transverse perforation 33, in the pin 27.

The piston head is provided upon its lower side with a boss or projection 34:, whereby when it is in its lowered position, its surface is held out of contact with the upper surface of the valve 16, to permit the introduction of steam between the adjacent faces, and the periphery of the piston head is grooved and fitted with packing rings 35, which are similar to those described in connection with the valve 16.

The operation of the mechanism as above described is as follows: The parts being in the positions indicated in Fig. 3, viz., with the piston in its lowered position, it will be seen that the space between the adjacent faces of the piston head and controlling valve, is in communication with the inlet port, whereby, when steam, air or other motive agent is admitted, an upward impulse is given to the piston. As the piston head approaches the upper end of the cylinder, it closes the relief port 7, and simultaneously the controlling valve is elevated by means of the shoulder 13, to open the exhaust port 6. The body of vapor above the extremity of the relief port 7 forms a cushion in the upper end of the cylinder to prevent hammering of the piston head, and the supporting spring 9 maintains the parts in the positions just described, until positively operated in the opposite direction. This positive operation is accomplished by means of the crank 36, which is attached to the spindle 37 of a locomotive bell 38, said crank being provided with a wrist pin 39, which fits loosely in a guide slot 40, at the upper end of the pitman 26. When the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 3, the supporting spring 0 presses the lower end of this guide slot 40 against the wrist pin 39, but owing to the weight of the bell said spring has no effect other than to prevent rattling or vibration of the parts, and preserve a uniform pressure, and contact. When, however, steam is admitted as above described, the pitman communicates a swinging movement. to the crank arm 36, and as the movement of the piston is rapid, it gives said crank arm an impulse which causes the bell to continue the same movement after the piston has stopped. This is shown by the position of the wrist pin at an intermediate point of the slot 40, in Fig. 5. The parts of the mechanism when relieved of the weight of the bell, maintain their elevated positions until the bell, having completed its forward movement undertheinfluence of the impulse, imparted by the piston, swings backward and causes the contact of the wrist pin with the lower extremity of the guide slot. The weight of the bell is sufficient to repress the piston and connections in opposition to the spring 0, thereby exhausting the cylinder through the port 6, and causing the valve 16, when the projection or boss 34 on the under side of the piston head comes in contact therewith, to close the exhaust and open the inlet port for a succeeding movement as above described. The body of motive agent, which is betweenthe plane of the exhaust port and the lower end of the cylinder formsa cushion to prevent hammering.

It is well known that the operation of a piston head or valve, such as those shown in connection with my apparatus, by wearing the portions of the inner surface of the cylinder with which the peripheries of said parts come in contact, are liable to cause ridges or obstructions at the extremities of the paths of said parts. In other words, the portions of the surface of the cylinders, which do not receive the frictional contact of the moving parts, remain in their original condition, and the parts subjected to such wear, by being reduced, cause ridges which are liable to interefere with the operation of the mechanism. This is especially true in connection with an apparatus of the class to which my invention belongs, and in order to equalize the wear upon the surface of'the cylinder, and cause a uniformity of reduction due to such wear, I employ the following means: the cylinder is provided at its extremities with counterbores 4i, whereby, when the piston head and valve reach the outward limits of their strokes, their outer surfaces lie in planes between the walls, respectively of said counterbores. In other words, when these parts come to the limits of their movements, their edges are not in contact with the surface of the cylinder. This is shown clearly in Figs. 3,4 and 5, in the first of which the valve is shown in the position above described, and in the others the piston head is shown in a similar position.

In addition to the above, I arrange the length of the strokes of the piston and valve ICC ' at one end to the operating arm or handle of to cause them to overlap slightly at their inof the piston head is in the plane of the up- .per side of the inlet port, and in Fig. 4 the upper side of the valve is above the plane of the upper side of the inlet portion. In order to reduce the expense of packing rings to a minimum, I employ the narrow form in common use for various purposes by railroad companies, and I have found, that with the use of this form of packing ring, it is necessary to employ at least three, as shown in the drawings. The upper packing ring must occupy a position above the plane of the inlet port, when the valve is elevated, and the lower packing ring must occupy a position below the plane of the exhaust port, when the valve is lowered, and therefore it is necessary to employ an intermediate packing ring, to cause the necessary equalization of wear upon the surface of the cylinder between the planes of operation of the upper and lower rings.

A further advantage of the above construction, resides in the fact that no bolts, pins or other detachable fastening devices are employed in connection with the parts within the cylinder, and hence the risk of accidental displacement during operations or at inopportune times is reduced to a minimum.

To facilitate the starting of the bell ringing apparatus from any part of the locomotive cab, I employ a cord 42, which, being attached the valve 4, extends upward to a suitable direction pulley 43, thence, backward to the rear end of the cab, and adjacent to the plane of the roof thereof, thence, across the rear end of the cab, and forward to a point 44 on the left side thereof, suitable direction pulleys being provided at each angle. Owing to the reduced amount of space within a locomotive cab, it is obvious that after the operating cord has been drawn to turn the inlet valve 4, it

will sag, and obstruct the interior of the cab,

and hence, I employ a take up device, such as that shown at 45, the same consisting of a spring 46, attached to a fixed portion of the cab, and connected at its free end to an intermediate part of the operating cord. This spring possesses sufficient flexibility to allow the operating cord to be drawn to open the inlet valve, but when the cord is released, the spring retracts, and thus takes up the slack in the cord, and prevents sagging. Other forms of springs or a weight may be used in this connection.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the construction of the device is simple, that the operation thereof is direct, that wear, due to friction between coacting parts, is minimized, and that there is no liability of displacement within the cylinder; and it is obvious further that various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of thisinvention.

What I claim is- 1. In a bell ringing apparatus, the combination of a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a piston rod, a piston carried by said rod, a slide valve arranged to control said ports, the piston rod carrying means for engaging the valve to elevate and depress the same, connections between the piston rod and a bell crank and resilient means for supporting the piston-rod and connections to relieve the piston-head of the weight thereof, substantially as specified.

2. In a bell ringing apparatus, the combination with avertical cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, of a piston rod arranged in the cylinder, a piston carried by said rod, a subjacent valve slidably mounted upon the piston rod to control said ports, the piston and piston rod being provided with means for engaging and communicating motion to the valve at the limits of the strokes of the piston, a slotted connection between the piston rod and a bell-crank, and a supporting spring bearing upwardly against the extremity of the piston rod to support said rod and connections, substantially as specified.

3. In a bell ringing apparatus, the combination with a bell-crank, and a pitman having a guide slot engaging a wrist pin on said bellcrank, of a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a piston rod mounted in the cylinder and operatively connected with said pitman, a piston head carried by said rod, a valve slidably mounted upon the rod to control said inlet and exhaust ports, and yielding devices for maintaining the piston in its extended position until repressed bythe impact of the wrist pin of the bell-crank upon the inner end of the guide slot in the pitman, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, of a piston rod arranged axially in the cylinder and provided with spaced seats or shoulders, a valve slidabl y mounted upon the piston rod, and adapted to be engaged by one of said seats or shoulders arranged near the extremity of the piston rod,

inlet and exhaust ports, of a piston rod arranged axially therein,a valve slidably fitted upon the piston rod, means for engaging the valve at the limits of movement of the piston rod, a piston head bearing upon a seat or shoulder on the piston rod, a sleeve fitted upon the piston rod to hold said piston head to its seat or shoulder, asocket piece threaded IIO upon the extremity of the piston rod and bearing aga'cst the contiguous end of said sleeve, and a pitman pivotally connected to the socket piece, substantially as specified.

6. The combination with a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a piston mounted in the cylinder and having its rod projecting therefrom, a valve and valve operating mechanism, of a socket piece attached to the ext-erior end of the piston rod and provided with parallel perforated ears, a pitman having an eye arranged between said ears, a pivot pin engaging the registering eye and perforations in the ears, and a locking pin fitting in a transverse perforation in the pivot pin and engaging registering perforations in a lateral extension of one of said ears, substantially as specified.

'7. The combination of a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports and terminal counterbores, a piston-rod, a piston-head fixed to the piston-rod and adapted when elevated to extend at its upper side beyond the inner wall of the upper counterbore and when dopressed to occupy a position with its lower face flush with the upper side of theinlet port, a controlling slide valve mounted upon the piston-rod in frictional contact with the surface of the cylinder and adapted when elevated to occupy a position with its upper face above the plane of the upper side of said inlet port and when depressed to extend at its lower side below the plane of the inner side of the lower counterbore, a plurality of narrow packing-rings on the periphery of the valve, the intervals between such rings being less than the extreme throw of the valve when in motion, whereby the friction of the rings upon the surface of the cylinder is made uniform, packing-rings carried by the pistonhead, the uppermost ring carried thereby being adapted to extend beyond the inner Wall of the upper counterbore when the piston is elevated, and means for communicating motion from the piston-rod to the valve, sulr stantially as specified.

8. The combination with a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a valve controlling the inlet port, a piston operating in the cylinder and connections, of a cord 42 connected 7 at one end to the arm of said valve, grooved rolls for supporting said cord in position for operation, and a spring 4C6 fixed at one end and connected at the other end to an intermediate point of the cord, whereby after the cord has been strained to open the controlling valve, said spring takes up the slack in the cord to prevent sagging between the supporting rolls, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. BAKER.

\Vitnesses:

HARRY MEYER, LOUIS STELLMANN. 

